Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Case Report In Post-Tibial Orif Patient, Olufemi Akinleye Akintunde, Leah Guzzardo, Kerstin Palombaro

Capstone Showcase

Background and Purpose

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain, which can be idiopathic or insidious. Despite this, another cause of patellofemoral pain is a secondary complication from tibial fractures and surgeries. Post-Tibial Open Reduction Internal Fixation: patients undergo a period of knee immobilization, altered weight-bearing status, and quadriceps dysfunction.  This causes quadriceps atrophy, altering the knee's biomechanics. The purpose of this case report is to illustrate the rehabilitation strategy and prognosis of this set of patients.

Case Description

A 44-year-old woman who had a right tibial ORIF developed anterior knee pain one-month …

Racial Disparities In Maternal Mortality: The Role Of Explicit And Implicit Bias In U.S. Healthcare, Lailah Allen

Capstone Showcase

Maternal mortality in the United States remains a critical public health crisis, with disproportionately high rates among Black and other minority women. Despite advances in obstetric medicine, racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths persist due to structural inequities, implicit bias in healthcare delivery, unequal access to prenatal and postpartum care, and broader social determinants of health. Nationally, Black women are significantly more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity and mortality compared to White women, reflecting longstanding inequities embedded within the healthcare system. This paper examines the relationship between race, healthcare access, and maternal outcomes through a focused case study of and …

Visual Aids And Numeracy In Healthcare: Leveraging The Drawing Effect, Zephyr J. Markley

Capstone Showcase

Healthcare decisions often require patients to interpret numerical risk information under stress, yet many struggle with low numeracy, which can distort comprehension and undermine informed consent. Well-designed visual aids can improve diagnostic inference, calibrate confidence, and support better choices, especially for patients with limited numeracy, but their impact depends on whether users can actually interpret the format accurately. Drawing may further enhance these tools by adding a tactile, generative layer that engages visual, semantic, and motoric processing while helping patients organize information into concrete models.

Passive visual aids appear useful but limited because they often position patients as observers rather …

Effectiveness Of A Task-Oriented Exercise Program In Managing Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Case Report, Daphne N. Olipas

Capstone Showcase

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal condition that commonly affects adolescents characterized by an abnormal multiplanar curvature of the spine. This condition may result in postural imbalance, trunk asymmetry, and limitations in functional activities. Exercise-based interventions are designed to enhance spinal stability, promote postural awareness, improve respiratory function, and support participation in daily activities. This case report aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured therapeutic exercise program for a person diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis. The intervention program includes core stabilization exercises, postural re-education, breathing exercises, and functional training.

Case Description: A 14 year-old female was referred to …

Effect On C5 Myotome Distribution After Cervical Spinal Surgery: A Case Report On Early Neuromuscular Re-Education, Nicole Eder Asebias

Capstone Showcase

Background and Purpose: Postoperative C5 palsy is a known problem after cervical spinal surgery and is characterized by upper extremity weakness that can significantly limit the ability to perform daily tasks. Despite its clinical relevance, limited literature describes physical rehabilitation-focused interventions strategies for this condition. The purpose of this case report is to describe the presentation, physical therapy intervention, and outcomes of a patient with postoperative C5 palsy managed with neuromuscular re-education.

Case Description: The patient is an adult who developed left upper extremity weakness consistent with C5 palsy following cervical spinal surgery. Primary impairments included decreased shoulder abductor and …

The Effect Of The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion On The Risk Of Hospital Closure And Adolescent Hpv Immunization In Rural Counties, Juliette Des Rosiers

Scripps Senior Theses

From 2005 to 2025, over 200 rural hospitals shut their doors, often citing increased operational costs, staffing shortages, low patient volume, regulatory barriers, financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncompensated care as common contributors to the closures. Rural patients are often referred by their primary care physician to a hospital for regular immunizations, since smaller clinics have less capacity to provide immunizations due to a shortage of pediatricians and limited vaccine stock. A crucial vaccine that is not required by schools and underutilized in rural areas is that against human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that infects cutaneous and …

Comparative Evaluation Of Conventional Ct And Dual-Energy Ct In The Detection And Characterization Of Intracerebral Stroke, Aidan Rosado, Shakiba Jalili, Hap Tain, Saleha Zafar

Research Methods Poster Session 2026

No abstract provided.

Improving Maternal Health: Investigating The Early Impacts Of Medicaid Coverage Of Doulas In Oregon, Miriam Akhmetshin

Scripps Senior Theses

While the U.S. spends more per-capita than any country on healthcare, we experience the worst maternal health outcomes of high-income nations. In addition to hefty healthcare bills, an overwhelming majority of mothers experience pregnancy-related health issues that decrease productivity and utility. Thus, it is critical to research cost-effective solutions that can improve maternal health and promote equitable outcomes. Doulas are trained non-medical professionals who support mothers and families before, during and after birth. As a growing body of medical literature points to the role of doulas in decreasing costly medical interventions, insurance companies have begun covering their services. In 2014, …

Food Stamp Participation And Health Outcomes In Ca Immigrants, Esther Kang

Scripps Senior Theses

The U.S. social welfare system includes programs aiming to increase access to nutritious food to reduce nutrition insecurity. However, studies suggest that immigrants continue to face disproportionate risks of nutrition insecurity and may face barriers to enrollment due to legal status. This study, using secondary data from the 2023 California Health Interview Survey, examines the associations between food stamp participation, food insecurity, and clinical diagnosis of diabetes among adult U.S.-born, naturalized, and non-citizen adults in California. The findings suggest that those enrolled in food stamps are more likely to report food insecurity than those who are not enrolled, and that …

Effect Of Jet Lag And Nighttime Shifts On The Circadian Rhythm Of Humans, Mahd Adrees

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project reviews the circadian rhythm and its disruption by jet lag and nighttime shifts. It discusses the effects on melatonin, sleep quality, and physiological symptoms using articles from Google Scholar. Key studies, mechanisms, and statistics will support these points. A discussion follows, comparing and contrasting the various literature sources. This review aims to raise awareness and summarize strategies to reduce jet lag and nighttime shift effects, improving wellbeing.

Research News, Publications, 2026, Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of April 1 - June 30, 2026.

Research News, Publications, 2026, Volume 1, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of January 1 - March 31, 2026.

Research News, Grants, 2026, Volume 1, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during January - March 2026

Research News, Grants, 2026, Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during April - June 2026

Ethanol And Iron Absorption Interactions Within Crayfish Invertebrate Models, James Rollman, Andrew Wissmar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Analysis of the effects of alcohol consumption (ethyl-alcohol) on iron absorption within crayfish model. The use of tube-feeding provides a novel, more precise output, and less invasive procedure compared to the traditional approach of dissolving the target substance in tank water and measuring hemolymph changes. The project aims to determine the extent to which alcohol influences iron absorption. Ultimately, the choice of iron reflect the future potential to aid in research with genetic hemochromatosis and or Iron overload.

The Connection Between Medicaid And Obesity In Northeast Ohio, Emmie Kelley, Sophie Kheder

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Obesity is a major public health concern in the United States that is projected to increase exponentially over the next few years. Obesity is commonly associated with a lower socioeconomic status. Lower-income individuals tend to be supported by Medicaid, a federal insurance program for low-income Americans. Prior studies have shown a positive correlation between income status and obesity prevalence. Our goal was to find if there was a correlation between Medicaid patients and obesity in Northeast Ohio, to provide physicians with a set of characteristics to better combat obesity, since preventative and treatment guidelines are tailored to national trends. We …

The Effects Of Habitual Temperature And Diet On Crayfish Physiological Processes, Tyler D. Deramo, Sunny Rana, Victor Popoviciu

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

We will use crayfish to test the individual and combined effects of temperature and diet to see how they impact physiological processes such as metabolism, growth rate, molting patterns, and behavioral analysis. A total of forty-eight crayfish will be used throughout the experiment, and they will be housed in separate containers. A plant-based diet (consisting of fresh kale) and an animal-based diet (consisting of dried bloodworms) will be tested alongside room temperature (~18 degrees Celsius) and a warmer habitual temperature (~24 degrees Celsius). Metabolism will be measured via O2 consumption, and growth will be measured by weighing and measuring the …

Dysregulation Of Alternative Splicing Patterns In The Ovaries Of Reproductively Aged Mice, Adnan T. Alsamaraee, Vanessa L. Correll, Julius O. Nyalwidhe, Pavla Brachova, Nehemiah S. Alvarez

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Female reproductive aging is characterized by progressive deterioration of ovarian function, yet the molecular mechanisms driving these changes remain incompletely understood. Here, we used long-read direct RNA-sequencing to map transcript isoform changes in mouse ovaries across reproductive age. Comparing young and aged mice after controlled gonadotropin stimulation, we identified widespread alternative splicing changes, including shifts in exon usage, splice site selection, and transcript boundaries. Aged ovaries exhibited increased isoform diversity, favoring distal start and end sites, and a significant rise in exon skipping and intron retention events. Many of these age-biased splicing events altered open reading frames, introduced premature stop …

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation And Physical Activity Associate With Extracellular Vesicle Size And Cargo In A Community-Based Cohort Of Women, Yvonne Baumer, Elizabeth M. Aquino Peterson, Matthew R. Bavuso, Noel Miller, Cristhian A. Gutierrez-Huerta, Nithya P. Vijayakumar, Sam J. Neally, Kaveri Curlin, Valerie M. Mitchell, Billy S. Collins, Neelam R. Redekar, Subrata Paul, Anca D. Dobrian, Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

African American (AA) women face disproportionate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk due to adverse social determinants of health (SDoH), including lower socioeconomic status (SES). Physical activity (PA) and plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) modulate CVD risk, but their relationships with SDoH remain unclear. This study examines associations between SDoH, PA, and plasma EVs in a Washington, DC-based cohort of at-risk AA women. Participants (N = 24, Age: 57 ± 12, BMI: 35 ± 6, ASCVD: 9 ± 5) joined the Step It Up Community-Engaged, Digital Health Physical Activity Intervention pilot study. EVs were isolated from fasting plasma samples. Multivariable regression, adjusted for …

An Investigation Into The Use Of The E1 Gene As A Target Gene For Molecular Detection And Differentiation Of Hr-Hpv Types, Shannon Reina

Masters

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world and high risk (HR-HPV) types are associated with 96% of cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death amongst women and screening for cervical cancer has led to a 70% reduction in deaths. Medical professionals currently use the HPV vaccine and screening to prevent the spread of HPV and to diagnose precancerous lesions in the cervix before they develop to late grade cancer. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that HPV testing be used as a primary screening method as a …

Advancing Safe Medication Administration During Pediatric Emergency Care Through Nurse Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Ciera Hunter

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Due to the increased complexities of pediatric medication administration, preventable errors occur at a higher rate than in general adult populations. Rural emergency departments (EDs) often see fewer pediatric patients and have less specialized support available on-site. Nurse continuing education is an evidence-based intervention to reduce medication administration errors making it vital to supporting patient safety and maintaining pediatric readiness.

Local Problem: The microsystem is a rural, critical access hospital in northern New England. In 2021, the microsystem scored 66/81 on the National Pediatric Readiness Project’s (NPRP’s) ED Assessment. In 2026, the score dropped 11 points to 55/81. Contributing …

Addressing Perception Of Nurse Burnout Through Educational Interventions On An Inpatient Hematology And Oncology Unit: A Quality Improvement Project, Kendra Flint

Master's Theses and Capstones

Introduction Nurse burnout is a growing concern in healthcare due to its negative effects on nurse well-being, staff retention, patient safety and quality of care. This quality improvement project evaluated whether a brief educational intervention could improve nurses’ confidence in recognizing and managing early signs of burnout within an inpatient hematology and oncology unit.

Methods This QI project utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to guide implementation and evaluation. Registered nurses completed anonymous pre- and post- intervention electronic surveys and descriptive statistics were used to compare change in self-reported confidence and burnout perception.

Intervention Participants were directed through a brief electronic …

Promoting Safe And Effective Ciwa-Ar Protocol Adherence On An Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Through An Educational Reference Poster: A Quality Improvement Project, Kenan J. Gray

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) can progress to seizures, delirium tremens, and autonomic instability. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol–Revised (CIWA-Ar) supports symptom-triggered AWS management, but safe use depends on timely nursing assessment, reassessment, and documentation.

Local Problem: On an adult inpatient psychiatric unit, chart audits identified CIWA-Ar protocol adherence gaps, including missed four-hour assessments and one-hour reassessments after lorazepam.

Methods: This quality improvement project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act model. Three educational reference posters were placed in high-visibility staff areas with QR-linked access to the facility’s AWS protocol and CIWA-Ar scoring guidelines. Outcomes were evaluated using pre- and post-intervention …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Motor Symptoms And Levodopa Dosage In Parkinson’S Disease, Frank Ferrari

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has a clear lack of dosing guidelines or standard treatment protocols, leaving physicians to develop individualized treatment plans to handle the needs of PD patients. The long-term progressive nature of Parkinson’s requires consistent care and updates to medication regimens. This puts significant strain on the healthcare systems tasked with treating them. With an increasing number of Parkinson’s patients and a plateau of professionals to care for them, patients may soon experience decreased physician availability, longer wait times, and worse quality of life outcomes. This study evaluated the relationship between PD motor symptoms, measured through the MDS-UPDRS Part …

Lost Fractures: Prevalence And Risk Factors For Missed Costosternal And Costal Cartilage Fractures Among Patients With Radiologic Chest Wall Injury., Joseph D Forrester, Mohamad Abou Chaar, Andrew T Barnes, Zachary M Bauman, Samy Bendjemil, Nizama N Betts, Benjamin Christie, Raaga Dasari, Devoe Wb, Michelle J Earley, Bradley Faliks, Tracy J Johns, Connie Johnson, Michelle S Junker, Brian D Kim, Jonathan M King, Ariel Whitney Knight, Alexis A Schweibinz, Daniel Stephens, Mary Stuever, Simeng Wang

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

BACKGROUND: Costosternal cartilages and the costal margin, collectively termed costal cartilage, are hyaline cartilage connecting ribs to the sternum and to adjacent ribs, respectively. Presence of intact costal cartilage is essential for elasticity of the chest wall. Anecdotally, costal cartilage injuries are underdiagnosed on trauma CT scan in patients with rib fractures. Our aim was to determine a baseline frequency of acute costal cartilage injury among patients presenting with rib fractures.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of injured adult patients admitted to Level I/II trauma centers with rib fractures from January 2020 to July 2024. CT images obtained …

The Prevalence Of Diabetic Retinopathy In American Indians Or Alaska Natives And Non-Indigenous Americans: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Caberry W. Yu, Keean Nanji, Anubhav Garg, Michele Zaman, Jane Jomy, Abdullah El-Sayes, Catherine Sun, Shreyas Bhat, Mark Phillips, Dena Zeraatkar, Jinhui Ma, Enrico Borrelli, Sunir J Garg, David H. Steel, Tien Yin Wong, Sobha Sivaprasad, Charles C. Wykoff, Varun Chaudhary

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

TOPIC: To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in adult American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) and non-AIAN patients with diabetes.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although diabetes mellitus is more prevalent among AIAN patients compared with non-AIAN patients, the evidence is inconsistent regarding whether AIAN patients have a higher prevalence or severity of DR.

METHODS: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from inception through February 23, 2025. We included primary studies evaluating the prevalence of DR in Americans with diabetes. The prevalence of (1) DR, (2) diabetic macular edema (DME), (3) proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), (4) vision-threatening …

Improving Timely Pain Reassessments And Documentation Using Nurse Education And Visual Reminders: A Quality Improvement Project, Madison Grace

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Effective pain management requires nurses to complete and document an entire pain assessment cycle, including the initial assessment, intervention, and reassessment (Wolters Kluwer, paragraph 5, 2020). Timely reassessments are essential for determining whether interventions were effective or if additional actions need to be taken to improve patient pain and comfort. Despite established hospital policies and guidelines, inconsistencies in timeliness of pain reassessments and associated documentation are a common challenge faced.

Local Problem: Baseline chart audits on a 22-bed combined pediatric and adult medical-surgical unit identified opportunities to improve adherence to timely pain assessments and documentation. With only 65% percent …

Improving Staff Knowledge And Consistency In Sat And Sbt Practices In The Critical Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Morgan Crapo

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous Awakening Trails (SATs) and Spontaneous Breathing Trials (SBTs) are key components of the ICU Liberation Bundle and have been associated with shorter durations of mechanical ventilation, reduced intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and improvement in patient outcomes. Despite having strong evidence supporting their use, implementation remains inconsistent due to knowledge gaps, workflow barriers and interdisciplinary communication challenges.

Local Problem: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve critical care nurses’ knowledge and confidence regarding the implementation of SATs and SBTs through an evidence-based educational intervention.

Methods: Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, this QI …

A Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Nursing Knowledge And Patient Safety In The Prevention Of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (Hapis) In A Medical-Surgical Unit, Kristen Vartabedian

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a significant quality indicator within the hospital system. HAPIs increase hospitalization, morbidity, and associated healthcare costs. The current evidence suggests that ongoing nursing education can improve pressure injury prevention and help in the early identification.

Local Problem: Nurses within a medical-surgical unit demonstrated a gap in knowledge in the identification of hospital acquired pressure injuries and lack of accuracy when charting skin findings. Thus, contributing to a delay in recognition and treatment of HAPIs.

Methods: This quality improvement project utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to guide implementation of educational flipbooks. Materials contained standardized wound …

Implementing A Nurse Re-Education Program To Promote Timely Use Of The Jada® System In The Postpartum Hemorrhage Cascade: A Quality Improvement Project, Maegan E. Doody

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), defined as blood loss greater than 1,000 mL after delivery, is a leading cause of maternal morbidity in the United States. Identification of risk factors and timely intervention are critical to improving maternal outcomes after delivery. First-line interventions include manual uterine massage, uterotonic medications, and antifibrinolytic medications; however, when bleeding is not well controlled, the Jada® System (Jada) is a newer vacuum-induced hemorrhage control device with a high efficacy and safety profile, particularly when implemented earlier in the hemorrhage cascade.

Local Problem: In 2025, the annual rate of PPH within the microsystem was 7.29%, …